Feb. 4, 2011
On reviewing the Duke game tape:
"I saw us playing the fifth-ranked team in the country that was probably as ready to play as they have been all year. They lost to St. John's. Going into the Wake game, we'll see if we can do the same thing: be ready to play after a tough loss.
"Nothing has changed in the way I feel. The day after the Virginia Tech game, I said we're fortunate to be playing [again] this quick, when you have a chance to get back on the court and play. This is not the time of the year where you look back at games. You see things you don't like and you prepare for the next game. That's the most important game. I can't do anything about the Duke game but I really get prepared for the Wake Forest game, that's important."
On the team's current mindset:
"Everyone is down when you lose. You're not supposed to be happy when you lose. If they were happy, I'd be upset. At the same time, we'll be ready to play. That's part of the process of losing a game. A loss has to hurt more than a win feels good, if you're a good player. I've always felt that way as a coach and I want my players to feel that way. I want them to feel down. We won't be down at the practice floor...We'll be ready to play at 1:00 tomorrow."
On the team's consistency:
"Your team is your team. You keep working on some things. We've added a few plays the last couple weeks, trying to make it easier for some guys to get open looks. You keep working at it...We've been inconsistent. Guys like Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker have had great games. They've had other games where you wish they could do what they did in the last game. That's the nature of most players. There aren't that many consistent scorers around...We're still working to try and get better at that."
On what went right against Wake on Jan. 12:
"I thought we played good defense. Our defense was there. We forced some key turnovers that got the lead out. They made a nice run at us but we were able to take the [lead] out again and win the game. Wake has some guys that are really good. They have some players that can really play...We fully expect this game to be tough. This time of the year both teams know each other."
On improving:
"We're trying to get better. There have been some times when we haven't consistently scored. That's obvious to everyone. That's OK. You lose your three top scorers from last year, that's something that is going to be a work in progress. That's just the way it goes. We fought hard to get to 4-4 [in the ACC]."
On the team's shooting:
"We had some looks that we didn't make. We can't do anything about that. We just keep working, trying to make sure we get our looks. The other team isn't going to give you layups. You have to make shots."
On handling the young team:
"I think I know what we have to do. We're just not getting the right pieces out there because of the inconsistencies. I know how I think this team can be the best possible team. It might be different people each night."
On freshman Haukur Palsson:
"I think he is a good player. He is a good utility man. He can play a couple different positions for us. For a freshman to come in and learn a few positions isn't easy. I think he is going to be a really good player in this program."
